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Organic foods to be highlighted in Ohio Sustainable Farm Tours

 
By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Farm tours are nothing new, so, wanting to make this year’s special, those at the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Assoc. (EOFFA) made organic foods their key focus.
Participating in these tours are 30 organic and ecological farms and businesses in Ohio and Michigan. The tours run from June 3-Oct. 24.
“This is a great chance for everyone interested in local foods to turn over a new leaf,” said OEFFA representative Lauren Ketcham. “They can learn how sustainably produced food is grown and connect with others who share a passion for sustainable agriculture.”
The tour will provide unique opportunities for farmers, educators and conscientious eaters to learn about sustainable agriculture and local foods on the farm from growers and producers with years of practical experience.
“They also can learn about the life of a shepherd, how to control weeds without chemicals, see draft horses make sorghum into sweet syrup, sample local meats, cheeses and jams and butcher their own poultry,” Ketcham said.
Additionally, the series includes a one-day Women Grow Ohio event celebrating women in agriculture, and a tour of a university research center showcasing the results of new sustainable agriculture research. This year’s series also includes 10 educational workshops on farm machinery, solar energy, dairy herd health, hops production, small-plot market farming, urban agriculture, poultry processing and living garden structures, along with a farm-to-table benefit dinner. All tours and workshops are free and open to the public.
Southwestern Ohioans won’t have to travel far for several of them, including Mill Creek Farm in New Lebanon. There, visitors will hear from Ben and Emily Jackle as they stress the importance of well-maintained and appropriately-scaled equipment. They will show the basics of main-taining, modifying and fabricating common farm equipment. During this hands-on workshop visitors will see the tools, techniques and shop space used on an eight-acre certified organic specialty crop farm.
At Carriage House Farm in North Bend (Hamilton County), visitors will see how a diversified Ohio Century Farm produces grains, fresh produce, herbs and honey. The farm focuses on sustainable local food production and distribution and allows visitors to tour the garden and high tunnel, examine machinery used to bale hay, take a wagon ride and sample farm ingredients prepared by local chefs and artisan producers.
At Pine Lane Farm in Batavia, in Clermont County, visitors can see Martha Fix’s herd of registered Saanen and Toggenburg dairy goats. Guests can try their hand at showing and milking, learn about cold process soap-making and see finished goat milk body care products, including soaps and lotions.
“Events will take place rain or shine,” Ketcham said. “Guests should dress and plan appropriately. Hats, sunglasses, long pants, closed-toe walking shoes, drinking water and sunscreen are recommended. Tours involve standing and moderate walking. And, we ask that people do not bring pets on this tour.”
A list of all the programs, plus details and a statewide map of each location, can be found online at http://oeffa.org/documents/farmtour2015.pdf
5/28/2015